Compare towns
Ripton vs Middlesex vs Westminster vs Middletown Springs
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Vermont.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Westminster has the most kids (28.4% under 18).
Middletown Springs has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ripton | Middlesex | Westminster | Middletown Springs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508 |
1,943Highest |
497Lowest |
747 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest VT: +2.8% |
+2.8%Lowest VT: +2.8% |
— | +6.6% VT: +2.8% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 11% above VT |
44.4±3.9 3% above VT |
43.3±11.5Lowest about the VT average |
49.2±5.1Highest 14% above VT |
| Middletown Springs and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest VT: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.1 VT: 17.9% |
28.4%±7.1Highest VT: 17.9% |
24%±5.4 VT: 17.9% |
| Westminster and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest VT: 21.4% |
20.6%±3.7 VT: 21.4% |
19.7%±11.4Lowest VT: 21.4% |
26.1%±2.5 VT: 21.4% |
| Ripton and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48% VT: 43.8% |
54.7%Highest VT: 43.8% |
45.4%Lowest VT: 43.8% |
45.6% VT: 43.8% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest VT: 7% |
5.2%±2.6 VT: 7% |
2.2%±3.5Lowest VT: 7% |
3.2%±1.5 VT: 7% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 39% above VT |
$109,632±$13k 35% above VT |
$81,000±$22kLowest about the VT average |
$82,000±$12k about the VT average |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61kHighest 25% above VT |
$376,300±$40k 19% above VT |
$313,600±$39k about the VT average |
$262,200±$24kLowest 17% below VT |
| Ripton and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,333±$359Highest 8% above VT |
$749±$315Lowest 39% below VT |
$1,208±$438 about the VT average |
| Middlesex and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915 about the VT average |
$6,483Highest 29% above VT |
$4,480Lowest 11% below VT |
$4,595 9% below VT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100Highest VT: 48.4% |
0%±100Lowest VT: 48.4% |
6.1%±43.8 VT: 48.4% |
20%±100 VT: 48.4% |
| Ripton and Middletown Springs are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest VT: 10.1% |
3.8% VT: 10.1% |
2.2%Lowest VT: 10.1% |
6.1% VT: 10.1% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% VT: 73.2% |
96.7%Highest VT: 73.2% |
80.1%Lowest VT: 73.2% |
90.4% VT: 73.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 3 yrs older than VT |
1986Highest 10 yrs newer than VT |
1938Lowest 38 yrs older than VT |
1981 5 yrs newer than VT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest about the VT average |
27 min 17% above VT |
30 minHighest 26% above VT |
27 min 16% above VT |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7 VT: 16.9% |
28.4%±10.7Highest VT: 16.9% |
23.1%±15.9 VT: 16.9% |
15.7%±5Lowest VT: 16.9% |
| Middlesex and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #53 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
VT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.